The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) completed the repaving of Duane Road, off of Totten Avenue inside of Fort Totten. The dreadful condition of that stretch of road made it impossible for the Q13 and Q16 buses to use it to turn around at the end of their routes, as they have done since the Fort Totten parking lot has been under construction. Instead, they were forced to use other local roads to turn around which struck a bad chord with the affected residents, who cited concerns of traffic congestion and safety and reached out to the offices of Assemblyman Edward C. Braunstein and Council Member Paul Vallone. With the road repaved, these buses will be able to resume their normal route and turn around on Duane Road.

“The decision by the NYC Department of Transportation to repave the Q13/Q16 turnaround will keep buses off residential streets, as was agreed to last June,” said Assemblyman Braunstein. “This is good news for our constituents in Bay Terrace. We should also not forget to thank the US Army for continuing to allow the buses to travel within Fort Totten."

“I am happy to have been able to help facilitate this repaving and I thank my Community and Cultural Affairs Liaison Warren Schreiber, and CB7 District Manager Marilyn Bitterman for working closely with our office to resolve this matter,” said Council Member Vallone. “I also applaud the DOT for listening to our concerns and responding quickly and professionally to our request.”

"On behalf of the entire community, I want to thank everyone for their efforts in making it possible for the Q13/Q16 buses to once again turn around inside Fort Totten,” said Warren Schreiber, President of the Bay Terrace Community Alliance. “When people work together in an atmosphere of good will, positive things can be accomplished."

“When I received a call from the community regarding the MTA buses using the local streets instead of Fort Totten to turn around, I found out from MTA that because of the potholes they needed to utilize the streets, because the holes, which were extremely deep would ruin the under carriage of the buses,” said Marilyn Bitterman, District Manager of Community Board 7. “I then contacted the Borough President's office, who spoke with the Department of Transportation who agreed to do the repairs. I would like to thank everyone, for their cooperative effort in getting the road repaired, especially the office of the Borough President.”